Wakkanai

is a city located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of Sōya Subprefecture. It contains Japan's northernmost point, Cape Sōya, from which the Russian island of Sakhalin can be seen. As of 1 June 1975, the city has an estimated population of 55,465 and a population density of 72.8 persons per km2 (189 persons per mi2). The total area is . Wakkanai is also home to Japan's first nursing home built inside the central train station of its city, a novel approach to caring for Japan's growing elderly population that has since been imitated in several other cities. Wakkanai was originally home to an Ainu population. The first Japanese settlement was established in 1685. 1879: The village of Wakkanai was founded. 1897: Sōya Subprefecture established. 1901: Wakkanai village became Wakkanai town. 1949: Wakkanai town became Wakkanai city. 1955: Soya village was merged into Wakkanai city. 1959: Wakkanai Airport opened. During World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy used the harbor and port as a submarine base. Wakkanai was far enough north to be outside the range of American heavy bombers and was safe from air attack. Until the early to mid-1960s, the northern portion of the harbor remained divided by concrete sub-mooring pens. The large breakwater structure (which still exists) was actually a sub-repair facility. At the shore end there was a huge winching mechanism capable of hauling subs up into the partially enclosed structure where they could be repaired while completely out of the water. Built into the hills above the city there were several reinforced concrete bunker-type caves where (anecdotally) they were used either to store ammunition and armament, or as air raid shelters for the civilian populace. History would suggest the former use, rather than the latter. During a re-build/renovation of the harbor sometime during the 1960s or 1970s, the harbor was cleared of the concrete pens and the machinery was removed from the breakwater structure which was reconfigured.